DUSHANBE, July 26, 2010, Asia-Plus -- In a report released in Dushanbe, the head of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), Sharif Rahimzoda, revealed  on July 26 that general residuals for loans provided by Tajik banks rose 2.4 percent in six months to June 30, 2010, reaching 5.6 billion somoni (equivalent to more than 1.27 billion U.S. dollars).

According to him, a share of loans provided in the national currency, the somoni, was 71.6 percent, while the share of loans provided in foreign currencies was 28.4 percent.

“In January-June this year, an average term for loans provided to physical entities was 370 days and the average term for loans provided to legal entities was 318 days,” said Rahimzoda, “The weighted average interest rate for loans provided in the national currency was 23.78 percent and the weighted average interest rate for loans provided in foreign currencies was 24.02 percent.”

The Tajik central bank head noted that volumes of small loans rose 3.5 percent in six months to June 30, 2010, reaching 877 million somoni.

Over the report period, local banks have attracted 57.2 million U.S. dollars from abroad, which is 80 percent more than in the same period last year, Rahimzoda added.

14 banks and 124 non-bank financial institutions now operate n Tajikistan.